On June 27, Legendary DJ Polo has died at the age of 63. DJ Queens is remembered for the pioneering work he did with venerable rapper Kool G Rap starting in the mid-1980s. As Kool G Rap and DJ Polo, they released three studio albums, including 1989's “Road to Riches” and 1990's “Road to Riches.”wanted Dead or Alive“And one compilation project. Cole G Rap gave Rolling Stone his memories of his late friend.
I grew up in Corona, Queens, since I was five years old. It was the early days of hip-hop, so [around] At the age of ten I started hearing talk on the streets. Polo was one of the names I heard. Over time, I started to gain a little notoriety in the neighborhood as the guy who could rap. I started to notice it on his radar. At some point around that time, Polo released his first album. [a record] With Frost B – He was one of the older cats who was known to perform at theme parks.
I didn’t meet Polo officially until I got on good terms with Eric B. I said, “Hey E. Let me share with you.” I just wanted to be where I belonged. Eric said, “No doubt about it, G. I got you.” And Polo hooked me up. Polo came up to me one day and said, “Dude, come on over. We’re going to Marley Marl’s house.” I jumped on his wheels, and we went to Queensbridge and made our first record. I thought it was just a demo at the time, so we called it [“It’s a Demo”]Polo got me there. He helped me learn about the game.
Even though he loved DJing, he wasn’t focused on being the best in the world. That wasn’t his thing. Polo was a ladies’ man, so Polo just wanted to make a name for himself – he wanted to be in the group and attract girls. That’s why I later brought Dr. Butcher on unofficially, because Dr. Butcher wanted to be that guy. I didn’t want to impose something on Polo that he didn’t want to focus on in that way. I wanted to stand out as one of the best rappers to ever come into the hip-hop game, but Polo didn’t want to be the best DJ ever.
I looked up to him because he was this guy who lived in the area. Even though he wasn't known as the weirdest DJ ever, he was still Polo. Everyone knew that name. But with Polo came DJ Smalls, and the Disco Twins, [and] A whole bunch of other names, because he was all in. DJ Smalls was a big name at the time. I looked up to Polo as a name in the hip-hop game at the time, and he had the ability to put out an early record. I'm proud to this day that my career came to fruition through Eric B, then Polo, then Marley Marl, then Juice Crew.
Polo was like a big brother. Polo was older than me, although I didn't feel it much at the time, because he had a youthful spirit. So I didn't have to look up to him all the time. Polo was driving before me. There were certain things he was doing before me outside of music. [was] You are talking [about] Things I had never known before. And it was wonderful to have the companionship of an older cat. But he didn't treat me like I was less mature or wise than he was. He treated me like I was his equal.
Polo had a record before I knew him. But it was our union that made everything take off for him, too. The record he put out before me was very popular in the neighborhood, heard all over town and stuff. But now we're dealing with something completely different. “It's a Demo” took us further. And the next single, “Rikers Island,” takes us further.
Polo gave us our first photo. He was wearing a polo hat. Our first promo photo was his idea for us to wear polo jackets. I thought that was great. He wasn't into trends or anything like that outside of polo shirts. He wasn't a polo shirt fan. It was about the real equestrian attire. It was the rider style that appealed to him. [laughs]Polo was his original character…the only black man with a tail on his back like a Spanish cat. [Laughs.] Polo doesn't do the shit that niggers do and no other nigger does the shit that Polo did about dress codes.
Polo was just a funny guy. He was so loud with jokes and nonsense like that, he would fail at his dances. [with jokes]Our TCF Crew dancers were young and when they started dancing with us, Polo and I were in street clothes. I was wearing Timberlands and Polo's. [rocking] Another type of shoe that no one else in New York wears. [Laughs.] Our dancers [were wearing] Blazers, slacks, and shoes, but they dance great. Polo used to be like, “Man, look!” and everyone would laugh. [laughing at the dancers’ shoes]He had a crazy sense of humor. Apart from that, he was loved by many, because he was a really great person. He was humble with everyone. He never acted over the top with anyone. And people loved him for that.
Kool G Rap and DJ Polo circa 1990. “It was his idea that we wear polo jackets. I thought that was cool.”
Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
Even when I broke up and it wasn’t about Kool G Rap with DJ Polo anymore, it wasn’t because we didn’t have differences. It just grew. And since he brought me into the game, I gave him seven years of Kool G Rap with DJ Polo. Three albums and seven years. I felt like I repaid him at that moment. Now he’s a household name, his name is known all over the world. My career grew by accident, but he was always my man. That’s why in 2012 [or so]I took it out again [on the road] I looked him up, found him, contacted him, and we did a bunch of shows. We did shows in Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, upstate New York… because he was my dream guy.
[In 2019]I have been trying to contact Polo for over a year. [His phone was] I go straight to voicemail every time I call. [had] The organizers convinced me to do the Kool G Rap and Polo tour, and they were adamant that DJ Polo be there. Polo wasn't a DJ to me. [a few years] At this point, I said to myself, “Okay, I’ll try.” So I tried again, same thing, but I was still on voicemail. I had heard before that Polo had Parkinson’s. But I thought, “He’s probably going to have some complications, but he’ll be fine.” But now I’ve been calling him for a long time, and this shit keeps going to voicemail… I’m like, “What the hell? Did that guy block me or something?”
I was so happy when he said, 'Guys, they want us to go on this tour.' I was going to do it more for him than for myself. I was on the road in 2017 and 2018, and it just frustrated me. I was going to do it because I know Polo. [wanted] I was hoping to get back there again, but I couldn't get in touch with him. And then I started hearing that Polo was still in the hospital. And I remember being shocked by that, like, “Is he still in the fucking hospital?” My life is crazy too [at that point]So I never really got a chance to go see Polo.
Last year, we did Cold Chillin' [30-year] Reunion at the Apollo Theater. The first time Cold Chillin' did it I wasn't there, because I was in the hospital. And now I'm there, but Polo wasn't there, 30 years later. I was like, “Isn't this something?” I ended up with my car locked in the garage. [afterwards]I was forced to stay. [in the city]So I took that as a really strong sign. I was like, “You know what? I'm stuck here, I'm definitely going to go see my guy. I'm going to find out where he is, and I'm going to go see Polo.”
I had another friend from my area with me. We both went to see Polo. I felt an urgent need to see him. I made sure I would go there. [saw] He, and I saw what people were saying to me. [about his health]He had trouble finishing his sentences. He had some difficulty, but we were able to understand everything he was saying. He made us laugh, and we made him laugh. I was happy to see my man.
So I was relieved. I said, “Guys, they’re talking like Polo’s going to die.” I said, “Guys, my guy’s fine.” He told me he’d be home in a week or two, and he said, “Yeah, I’m going to beat you up because I’m going home.” I said, “Okay, let me know when you get home, and we’ll help you.” I never got that call. But I still wasn’t thinking the worst. Then I heard that he hadn’t come home from the hospital.
Polo was a true friend to me. He was a brother to me. I loved him. And one great thing he did, other than present himself to the world, [is bringing] Cool G Rap for everyone. It happened because of Polo. [He was] One of the most down to earth, down to earth, humble and funniest men I've ever met. And I know I speak for many people who have known Polo personally. They will agree.
